Late burst lifts Astros' win streak to six

Published 12:36 am, Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Astros Michael Bourn (left) and Hunter Pence celebrate after scoring on a single by Jeff Keppinger during the ninth inning of Monday’s victory.

Astros Michael Bourn (left) and Hunter Pence celebrate after scoring on a single by Jeff Keppinger during the ninth inning of Monday’s victory.

Image 2 of 2

Astros Michael Bourn (left) and Hunter Pence celebrate after scoring on a single by Jeff Keppinger during the ninth inning of Monday?s victory.

Astros Michael Bourn (left) and Hunter Pence celebrate after scoring on a single by Jeff Keppinger during the ninth inning of Monday?s victory.

Late burst lifts Astros' win streak to six

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

ST. LOUIS — As far as wins go, the Houston Astros could get used to one like Monday night’s against the St. Louis Cardinals, and not just because it helps the record.

It was one that had the dugout abuzz like few times this season, one that saw teammates pulling for each other with genuine fervor, a rallying effort that did not stop after a lead was secured.

It was, in players’ words, an overwhelming reaffirmation after some of the most turbulent days the Astros have endured as a franchise in recent times.

Sparked by the hustle of Michael Bourn and the bats of Carlos Lee, Chris Johnson and Jeff Keppinger, who drove in four, the Astros exploded for seven runs over the final two innings in a 9-4 come-from-behind victory before a sellout crowd of 43,369 at Busch Stadium.

"The guys did a great job," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "What a team win, the way everybody came together and the way they played. Just the excitement that they had, it was pretty special.

The win over the National League Central-leading Cardinals extended Astros’ longest win streak of the season to six games, which is tops in the majors, and helped them overtake the Chicago Cubs for fourth place in the division.

The Astros cashed in on another solid outing by Brett Myers and overcame an error-filled first inning and a blow to the gut in the form of a two-run homer by Albert Pujols in the fourth inning.

Whether the streak stems from small but steady improvement — the Astros are 29-25 since June 1 after a 17-34 start — or the result of the ultimate wake-up call — the departure of franchise icons Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman over the weekend — remains to be seen.

To hear Lee tell it, watching the team ship out two franchise icons in a matter of two days did more for the Astros than just shock them.

“I think it sent a message to the team,” Lee said. “Now we don’t rely on nobody; we’ve got to do it, and the young guys know that they’ve got to do it right, too.”

What is inarguable is the younger Astros are reflecting an energy and intensity that had been tough to spot until recently.

At no point was this more evident than the bottom of the eighth inning.

With the Astros down 4-2, Bourn walked on a full count, stole second base and scored on a one-out RBI single by Lee off St. Louis reliever Mike McDougal to cut the Cardinals lead in half.

Keppinger’s clutch double plated Anderson Hernandez for the game-tying run, and Lee squeezed home on a failed fielder’s choice that had Johnson safe at first base for the 5-4 lead, the Astros' second of the night.

Keppinger’s two-run single and Johnson’s RBI double in the top of the ninth sealed the scoring for the Astros, who are 6-4 against the Cardinals this season, including 5-2 at Busch Stadium.

Entering the game, the Astros were 4-53 when trailing after seven innings this season.

“We kept it going throughout the inning,” said Bourn, whose stolen base was his NL-leading 33rd of the season. “The big thing we didn’t just try to get one; we kept pouring it on. That takes the air out of the balloon for the other team when you are able to do that.”

Myers did his part to ensure the Astros had a chance. Fresh off signing a multiyear extension worth up to $29.5 million, he pitched his team-leading 16th quality start in 22 starts but could not make a brief 2-1 lead stand in the fourth.

Pujols took Myers deep for a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to give the Cardinals their second lead of the night, 3-2.

For Pujols, a career .321 hitter against the Astros, it was his 26th homer of the season and 39th all-time against the Astros.

Myers’ night got off to a shaky start after his bad throw to second allowed Felipe Lopez, who had singled to lead off the first inning, to fly by toward third base with no outs.

Bourn compounded the problem by erring on a second throw to second base, which allowed Lopez to squeeze home for the early Cardinals lead.

Aside from the homer and the error, Myers had an otherwise uncomplicated outing, allowing just two other hits while striking out four and walking as many.

Nelson Figueroa (3-1), a reliever recently picked up off waivers, earned the win for the Astros.

Now Playing:

Making his debut for the Cardinals since being acquired from Cleveland on Saturday, Jake Westbrook (saw his two-run, six-inning outing botched by a bullpen that surrendered seven runs on eight hits to go with four costly walks.

Rookie first baseman Brett Wallace gave the Astros a brief 2-1 lead with an infield single that plated Hunter Pence. Wallace’s first career RBI came on his third major league start and against the team that drafted him in 2008.